Commodification of Learning

Given the planned changes outlined by the current coalition government, to raise the cap on tuition fees both as a means of reducing the financial burden on taxpayers and also aiding government in its plan to reduce spending as part of its Deficit Reduction plan, concerns were raised by both speakers that this Commodification of learning, whereby a source of knowledge and a process by which young people learn the values and norms of society, would be restricted only to those who are willing and able to pay.

In addition to this, Bishop Stevens raised the issue that by placing such a price on Higher Education, it would lead to a situation whereby those fortunate enough to enter Universities and obtain a degree, would treat their degree as their own, and all benefits from it; such as a career that pays well and is relatively more secure than others, because they may claim to have bore the greater burden.

A further point raised by both speakers it would lead to a more individualistic society along social class, divided between those who are privileged enough to afford Higher education and those who cannot. As a result, citizens within a society will be concerned more by their own fate, than that of those around them. In order to combat this fear, the VC stated that he believed that their needed to be greater communication within communities and forging partnerships to help individuals better understand one another, but to also share any derived benefits and experience gained at University.

The issue of tuition fees is one that presents a conflict of interest for the Vice Chancellor. One the one hand, responsible for dealing with the £40million of funding cuts, and the financial challenges that will follow, the VC would believes that an increase in tuition fees will help to fill this gap. However as Vice Chancellor, his main priority is providing the best platform for students to achieve their potential academically and personally and so he believes that removing tuition fees altogether, will allow the University to attract the best students from all social classes, helping to remove barriers to social mobility and individualism.

Towards the end of the stakeholder’s session, Dr Miles Weaver, the chairperson, asked members of the audience for their views on the statement, which was put forward by Professor Michael Sandel on the BBC4 programme “Justice: Fairness and the Big Society”. “Those who go to University enjoy better pay and opportunities in life; so it is only fair that graduates, not the ordinary taxpayer, should pay most of the cost”. In the show 65% of the audience disagreed with the statement claiming that society as whole benefited from an educated population, and such should contribute towards the cost of higher education. In the debate session between the VC and the Bishop, the audience was evenly split down the middle.